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Reader Participation Day: Where Are the Best Waterfalls In the National Park System?

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on March 3, 2010 - 4:30am
Two of the most incredible waterfalls in the National Park System can be found in Yellowstone National Park. But it certainly doesn't have a monopoly on waterworks. Olympic National Park boasts the beautifully secluded Marymere Falls, Glacier National Park the towering Bird Woman Falls, and Great Smoky Mountain National Park the comparatively small but gorgeous-just-the-same Abrams Falls. What other waterfalls in the park system deserve to be singled out for their beauty?

Ban On Outside Firewood Brought Into Shenandoah National Park Starts March 1

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on February 23, 2010 - 4:00am
If you're planning a trip to Shenandoah National Park, be aware that as of March 1 you won't be able to bring firewood into the park. The ban is an effort to stop the spread of a nasty beetle that could greatly impact the park's ash trees.

A Look at Some More Somewhat Unusual Lodges in the National Park System

Submitted by David and Kay Scott on February 12, 2010 - 3:59am
If you're looking for a national park lodge that isn't on everybody's tongue, you might want to consider one of the following.

Dining At The Parks: Chicken Riesling From Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows Lodge

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on February 12, 2010 - 3:38am
Frequent visitors to the Big Meadows Lodge or Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park no doubt are familiar with Executive Chef Peter Bizon's chicken riesling dish. For those who want to try it at home, here's the recipe.

What "Off-Season"? Recent Rescues Keep Rangers Busy at Shenandoah National Park

Submitted by Jim Burnett on February 8, 2010 - 3:57am
Park visitors occasionally ask rangers, "What do you find to do during the off-season?" There's rarely a shortage of work any time of the year, and a recent series of incidents at Shenandoah National Park offers a reminder that the term "off-season" is often a misnomer.

Deadly Weather Buffets Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Parks

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on January 25, 2010 - 3:18pm
Powerful winds and heavy rains descended on the Appalachians on Sunday and lingered into Monday, downing trees, flooding roads, and resulting in a death in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Winter Storm Closes Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive and Some Sections of Blue Ridge Parkway

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on January 7, 2010 - 6:07am
A major winter storm has created hazardous driving conditions in the three major Appalachian parks. All of Skyline Drive and some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway have been closed. Great Smoky's Newfound Gap Road is subject to closures at night due to ice.

2009 in Review: National Park Brain Teasers

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on January 1, 2010 - 3:45am
During 2009, Traveler posted 67 national park-themed quizzes, mystery photos, mystery spots, and mystery plants. They’re all listed here, complete with links.

Some Out of the Ordinary National Park Trips To Consider

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on December 13, 2009 - 3:24am
For most, a national park vacation entails booking a room in a lodge or reserving a spot in a campground, arriving at the park and checking in, and then spending a number of days hiking, paddling, or traveling the park to view various sites, whether they focus on waterfalls, geysers, deep forests, museums, or cultural focal points. Here are some alternatives to that approach, some pricey, some not so.

National Park Mystery Plant: 4: This “Tree from Hell” Smells Like Rancid Peanut Butter

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on November 19, 2009 - 4:55am
This tree is an Asian import that grows fast, spreads fast, damages ecosystems and crop land, and is very tough to eradicate. It stinks, too.